Sculthorpe cops two weeks for headbutt

LATROBE will likely have to try to win this year’s premiership without its centurion goalkicker after Claye Sculthorpe was handed a two-match suspension at the NTFL tribunal last night.

LOSS OF BIG MAN: Latrobe’s Claye Sculthorpe attempts to avoid a tackle by Ulverstone’s Ryan Wing. Sculthorpe was unable to avoid a two-match ban last night over a headbutting incident at the weekend. Picture: Katrina Docking

Sculthorpe was found guilty of headbutting Penguin’s Jayden Bramich, an incident that occurred in the second quarter of Sunday’s fiery elimination final.

It is potentially a huge blow for the Demons given the man who crossed from NWFA club Motton Preston in the off-season has kicked an incredible 105 goals in his debut season.

But a bitterly disappointed Latrobe president Rick Slatter was refusing to accept the charge immediately after the sentence was handed down, saying the club would look at all possible options in regards to challenging the decision.

‘‘He’s obviously a very important player to our club,’’ Slatter said.

‘‘He’s a big man who has kicked 100 goals for us this year and they don’t grow on trees.’’

Ironically, Sculthorpe was cleared of striking Bramich as was fellow Demons forward Adam Jeffrey, who escaped penalty and is free to play Ulverstone in Saturday’s preliminary final at Girdlestone Park.

The findings for Latrobe’s Zane Good and Penguin’s Jack Templeton, who were reported for striking each other, were not available at the time of press deadline.

The incident that hospitalised Latrobe’s Rodney Coghlan was not heard last night because Coghlan was unable to attend the hearing.

Penguin’s Luke Gorrie was placed on report for misconduct against the Demons’ star on-baller, who was taken from the ground on a stretcher with concussion in the second quarter.